A Brief History of Bective Rangers

The Beginnings

The first step on the long road to the development of the modern rugby club of Bective Rangers took place in 1834 with the formation of Bective House College. Trinity College scholar, Dr. John Lardner Burke (born 1805 Ennis, Co. Clare) opened the doors of Bective House College advertising it as the Bective House Seminary for Young Gentlemen. Read More

Early Days

Bective House, Smithfield The first Earl built his Dublin townhouse adjacent to the main cattle market in Smithfield. He was one of the country’s main cattle dealers. When the Earl died, his son, the second Earl moved from Smithfield to Rutland Square (now Parnell Square). He had no interest in the business, he named this new town house Headford House after his County Meath estate. Read More

Famous Past Pupils

Bram Stoker A certain Bram Stoker was first blooded to the game of rugby at Bective House College. The descendants of Rev. Woods (Stoker’s Bective Tutor) informed Stoker’s biographical author Edwin Woods (From the Shadow of Dracula) that Stoker was well known for his interest in sport and rugby football in particular. Read More

Sports at Bective

The Development of the Modern Club Cricket Initially it was cricket which was played at the school with records of matches with the various Dublin clubs including Dublin University, Clontarf, Phoenix and Leinster, Rathmines. Rugby Football In the early days of rugby at the college, the distinctions between school and club teams were somewhat blurred as sport at that time was not highly organized, with associations and unions yet to fully establish themselves. Read More

First President & Captain

First President Richard Mayne Tabuteau, a prominent member of Dublin’s Hugenot community and head of his family’s wine merchant business, was the first President of Bective Rangers F.C. (1881 to 1898). He was heavily involved in St. Bartholomew’s Church, Ballbridge, where there is still a plaque bearing his name. First Captain The first captain was R.S. Montgomery, from 1881 to 1884.

The Bective Colours

The Origin of our Colours At a club meeting in Sept 1903 James M. Magee wisely proposed to change the jersey “from Rose & Green to Rose, Green & White. Fortunately for all of us, the proposal was approved and thus the famous rose, green and white Bective Rangers hooped jersey was born.

Club Grounds

Donnybrook The club moved to our current Donnybrook home circa 1910. Before this matches had been played at the R.D.S. during the 1890’s and 1900’s (early team photos from the RDS remain in the clubhouse). The Glenamuck Ground The club bought the former De La Salle R.F.C. grounds on the Glenamuck Road, Carrickmines in the 1980’s following the merger of Palmerston F.C. and De La Salle R.F.C. Read More

Club Cups & Trophies

The club annually hosts a varied range of competitions both rugby related and non-rugby related. One of these is the Barniville Cup for golf which has been contested for since 1932 and is one of the oldest competitions of its kind in Irish rugby. Others include the Eddie Bryan Perpetual Trophy (ladies golf), and The Outspan’s Cup, as well as interclub friendships, memorial cups and trophies. Read More

Our High Achievers

Irish International Players 55 Bective men have played full senior international matches for Ireland. First international was John Waites in 1886 and the last full international senior cap earned in 1996 by Kurt Mc Quilkin. Welsh International Players I.T. Davies in 1914 and the legendary Cliff Morgan in 1955. Presidents of the IRFU The club has the prestigious honour of providing five Presidents of the Union. J.H. O’Conor, 1911-1912 W.G. Fallon, 1949-1950 M. Cuddy, 1993-1994 J.P. Lyons, 2008-2009 Louis Magee, 2014-2015

Success & Team Honours

Our Victories The club has collected over 70 winning honours throughout the years, 65 of which are official I.R.F.U. and Leinster Branch competitions at adult level. The club won the Leinster Senior Cup an impressive 12 times between 1889 and 1962. Our most recent club success was the winning of cup by the under 18’s in 2015. Read More

Juniors

A Thriving and Welcoming Junior Section Over the last number of seasons the junior section has succeeded in delivering it’s share of silverware to the trophy cabinet. Fortunately, and due to the hard work of our members, our junior section is extremely strong and is in fact one of the largest in Dublin with over 100 members Read More

Seniors

The club competes in the All Ireland League Section 2B and have played in the All Ireland League competition since it’s inception. Any player wishing to join the squad will receive a warm welcome and professional assistance is offered to any player seeking employment or career, study or training advice.